Boiler-cleaning device



I 1927 April 26? wa. R. Bows BOILER CLEANING DEVICE lFilecil March 3.1922 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

f By N.

M. R7 BOVVE April 26,1927. f 1,625,385

' BOILER CLEANING 'DEVICEl Filed March 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet a 3. f u ,i J

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vPatented Apr. 26, y1927.

MARION R. BoWE, Aor PHILADELPHM, PnnNsYLvAivrA, Assia-mon or oNn-nALF roWILLrAM D. Hann-Is, oF rnmanniirnra, PnNNsYnvAma Bonne-CLEANING Davie-E.

Application field March 3, 17922. Serial ;No. 540,684.

This invention relates to improvementsy in devices .for cleaning thetubes .of fire tube boilers ,wherein `the cleaning 1s effected by steamdirected by nozzles to and through the tubes.l

Anvobject of ymy invention is to provide a cleaning devicev ofnovel,simple and elicient construction in which the steam supplied t0 thecleaning .nozzles may besuperheated by the products of combustionissuing from boiler tubes, lensuring .the discharge of .dry steamfromgtlie nozzles. Anotherv .object of theinvention is to provide ineansacting` automatically for the elimination of water of condensation fromthe cleaning, device after each cleaning operation. Another object is toprovide a novel means .to support the dev ce .on the vboiler housingdoors in vfront of the boiler in a manner to permit it -tobe readilyadjusted to bring its steam ydischarging; nozzles l.either closer to ,orfarther from the Vforward -ends'of vthe boiler tubes `and to permit itIto fbe adjusted vertically to bring the nozzles vinto alinement.withthe tubes; and a further object of ',the'linvention is. toprOVidean improved form of nozzle for ydireciting ,the steam to allparts of a tube being cleaned. y

Nithpthe .foregoing object s'vin view', the invention vconsists .in thenovel construct-ion, combination and arrangement of plrtshereiii-afterdescribed `and'clairned. ln the accompanying drawings, illustrating-myinvention, Figurel .is a front view lof Aa portion ofa boi-ler providedwith a cleaning device enibodying my invention, one of the doors ofthe-housingbeing shown in `the Aopen position'. Y v Figure 2 isalongitudinal, vertical .sect-ion through the forward portion of theboiler housing, l

Fipjureisaviewof one of the steam headers of the cleaning,` device andparts attached thereto. y

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through one of the nozzles, on line 44 of 5.-

Figure is an end `viewfof the nozzle. Figure Gis a vertical sectionthrough ,the steam separator.

flfllgure is .la 'rear viewof onejof-theheadergand the steam separator`formed-gthereon Figure Sgis a verticalsectionthreugh the header, online ,8f-,8 of Fig?. Y Eis-ure 9Sa horizelltalfsectionithtough saine.The boiler 2 is provided with .the

usual fire ,tubes 5 ,extending longitudinally therethrough and Vopen at:both ends. The housing is provided vvith l a tire bog; 6, a passes@ 7leading .therefrem had: beneath ythe steam separator, ,on line 919 Yof itlheboiler lto the rearward endsof the tubes 5 5, and a p assagel()extending infront ofthe forward ends of the tubes y5 and leading backOver `the vboilerlto a ,suitable chimney lor stack. flhe products ofycornb,u stion from the lire box 6 are adapted to pass therefrom backthrough the passage 7g, then forwardly through the boiler tubes 5 andthen upland backl `through the passage 10, as is welle:

knownin boilers ofthisftype. .1

The front .wall yof the passage .10 orfliousing Sie provided with ,an'opening 1.1 lin front of `the boiler- Q,-and 4the opening 1 l 1 isnormally closedbya pair of doors 12 which are hinged, at 13, to theinainywalls ofl the housing .3, and which may be opened to af# fordaccess tothe boiler 2 when desired .-'lliep/arts thus far described l.areconigmonand .well known `to persons skilled in this art, and no detaileddescription thereof is deemed necessary ',herein.

'rirrang'ed within `the passage 10.* betwcen` r` the frontend oftheboiler2 and ,the idoors 12 are -two alined,` horizontallyextendingstealnheaders .14 which are located centrally of tlieendA of the boiler.Eaclidoor13 car ries `.a `header 1a; and as the I.constructiou of eachlheader and its connected parte and their relationtoits door v1`2the,b`oiler ,2 and housing` 3 l are the same, a description v.of onewill suffice for both, as follows: 'A

VThe yheader `11i -s secured near itsend `to twoang'le plates 15`byUbolt's 1,6, and eachangle lplate 1.5 vis connected y.to the door 12by two lhorizontal rods 17 and an upwardly and outwardly .inclined rodl,18. Theinnei ends of the rods 1,7 pentrate the vangleplate 15 andaresecured `.thereto by nuts screwed on to the rods .andengaging oppositesurfaces ,ofthe .anglel plate. portion olf each k rod 1 8 extendsthrough. the door 12 .and has a n ut 19pscrewed thereon and'engagingthetop ofthe door 12, .It will tliusbe understood thattherods'lS takethelos r The .upper Bhd f Cil ' downiwrdly therefrom l17'eXtend through thedoor 12 and have suitable heads on the outer ends thereof by means ofwhich they may be adjusted. The rods 17 are also provided with nuts 21which engage the inner and outer surfaces of they door 12. By adjustingthe nuts 21 the header 14j may be adjusted 'toward and from the forwardends of the boiler tnbes 5, as desired. j v

The casting forming 'the header 14 has an enlarged hollow portion 22extending and toward` the boiler 2 and forming a steamseparator having aseparating chamber 23 therein. The upper rearward portion of theseparator is connected to a pipe connection 24 extending between it anda central steam supply pipe 25 leading from the boiler 2. The pipeconnection 24 is provided with a suitable controlling valve 26 adaptedtobe opened and closed by means of a pull chain 27 tosupply steain 'tothe separator' 22 whenL desired.

y' he. upper forward portion of the separating chamber 23 opens into thesteam headerl 14 which entends outwardly from each side of the steamseparator 22,r and av baille wall 23 entends downwardly within thechamber 23 Vfrom the top wall thereof between the steam'inlet opening 29and the header 14, and the lower end of the baflle wall 28 has 'arearwardly directed lip or flange 430 thereon to deflect the incomingsteam against the ribbed or corrugated rearwardly bulging l wall 31ofthe separator 22 and prevent the direct passage of the steam to theheader 14. Extending' across the chamber 23 below and spaced from thebottom of the baffle wall 28 is a partition like grate 32 formed bynarrow bars having narrow'spaces `between thein to permit water ofcondensation to pass and to interfere in some measureL withthe passageof steam below the same as the steam .passes around the bottom of the`wall 28 on its way to the header 14. The

separator ,22 is made tapering vbelow the 'grate 32 and has a. dischargeoutlet opening adjustable head 38 screwed on tothe outer end thereof.Encirclingthe `stem 37 between the head 38 andthe casing of the valve isa helical spring 39 which holds the valve`36 normally in the openposition away from its seat 40 and against which the valve 36 may bemoved to its closed position against the seat. When the valve. is thusclosed it is adapted to be held closed Screwed into projecting bosses 0nthe for-` ward wall of the header 14= is` a` rowfofhollow fittings 42which communicate with the header; and'screwed into the top. and bottomv of each fitting 42 are upwardly and downwardly extending alined pipesk 43 closed at their free ends. The pipes 43 coin- 'municate with thefittings 42 and are `arranged directly in front of the vertical rows ofboiler tubes behindthe door 12. The

pipes 43 are provided witlrhorizontally eX- tending pipes 4.4/ which"correspond in inumber with the tubes 5 of thev verticalrow thereof infront of which the pipes 43 are located, and the pipes 43 areinf axialalinement with the tubes 5. The inner 'or rear- `ward ends of theV pipes44-are provided with steam discharging nozzles 45 each Vof whichvcomprises a hollowhead 46 having a central outwardly extending'projection 47 provided with a central steam discharging passage48.

rThe head 46 is also -provided with an outwardly flared groove 49 in itsouter wall around the projection 47, and withA passages 50 connectingthe groove 49with'the interior of the headA 46. The central passage48kis designed to discharge steam with great force along and againsttherear ordistantgintcrior surfaces of the fire tubes 5, and thepassages 50 and flaring groove 49k are designed to discharge steam withgreat force along and against the forward or near interior surfaces ofthe tubes 5.

Each fitting 42 is provided with a valve head 51 which controlscommunication between the header 14 and the pipes 43` eX-k tending fromthe fitting. Each-valve head v51 is fitted to. a s-eat 52 formedA on theinner end of .the fitting 42, and each valve head 51 is carried lby aistem 53 which is slidable in its fitting 42. jects outwardly from itsfitting 42. and is embraced by the'bifurcated upper end of a lever 54which is fulcrumed, at 55, onan Each v valve eterni-53 pros j armextending iittin 42. The bifurcated endjof thele'ver Y,541s arrangedbetween two "collars 56 fixed onthe vvalve stem, so that the :lever 54may enga-ge the collars and movethe'valve steinv andfh-ead `5l whentlfefleverl 'is moved, Yand so that the ste1ii5'3'and head [511 mayberee'to turn-relativellyi'to the lever 54 fior wearing and 'seating`purposes. The llowerarm oi' each lever 54hfas 'a rod 57 secured thereonand projecting outwardly therefrom vvthrough Aa small oivneninginthe'adacent :door il2. Each rod 57 has a suitab'lelead 58 on the outerend thereof bymeans of 'whichjtherod 57 may be operated "by' hand tomove the lever v54v to move its valve head 5l' to the open 'and closedposition, desired. l/Vhenthe valve headl 51 is moved-tothegclosedposition, 'it is held tight 'against its'seat N52 by lthe steam pressurewithin the header J14.

' 't willjb'e 'bserved tl :at 'the -tiibe cleaning device visldividedjonavertical plane extend- V-ing longitudinally lthroughtl'iefcenter of 4th'elooiler vinto vtwo vlike sections Vontherespe'ctive sides of 'the said plane, and that eac-h 'sectiony issupplied y with l.steam `from the central pipe `to 'clean the tubes onits side "of the said 'plane. l The two sections are alilze 'exceptingthat rthey 4are made right and lei-ft, as shown; `and as each vsection,is operated the saine as lthe other, a description di theoperationni onewill suffice for both as follows;

When it is desired to clean the tubes 5 back of a cleaning section, thevalve 26 is opened, permitting steam from the boiler 2 to enter thelsteam separator 22 through the pipe connection 24 and force out throughthe pipe 34 and open valve 35 all water of condensation that may bepresent within the separator and thev drain pipe 34. After this water ofcondensation is forced out, the valve 35 is pushed shut andthe steampressure between it land the valve 26 holds the a valve 35 in the closedposition against the action of the .spring 39. The rods 57 are thensuccessively pulled outwardly and afterwards released 'or pushedinwardly to open and close the valves 5l, one at a time. lVhile eachvalve 51 is heldin thev open position, steam is discharged from thevertical row of nozzles 45 controlled thereby and the vertical row oftubes back of the nozzles is cleaned by the steam, as previouslyexplained. After the vertical rows of tubesV 5 have been thus cleaned,the valve 26 is closed and subsequently the reduced steam pressurewithin the separator 22 and pipe 34 permits the spring 39 to open thevalve 35 for a succeeding .tube cleaning operation. I

The construction of the steam separator and the relation of the partsthereof to the boiler and lto thefother parts of cleaning device formsan important-,part of my invent-ion fbe'caus'e lthe hot rgases :or iireissuing Vfrom the tubes 5 k strikes the separator and .s-uperlieatslAthefsteainl passing.. there-V i a passage for' products of Vcombustionleadif ing from the fire tubes, anda tube cleaning device within @saidpassage in front oil the discharge end of `saidtubes and comprising asteam header, pipes connect-ed to the header and provided with 4steamdischarging nozzles directed vtoward the `open ends o'ffsaid tubes, asteam separator within said passage in frontoi the discharge lendet-saidtubes and communicati-ng'with the header, a steam supply pipek-"leadingy ljto the `-separator, .and valves for controllingthedischargeoi steam from the nozzl es. j

2. The combination of a fire tube boiler,-a housing enclosing the sameand providing a `passage for products of combustionlead- "f' ing fromthe :lire tubes, and a tube 'cleaning device within -said passage in'front oi the v discharge' end of said -tubes and'fcomprisinga`horizontally extending steanr'header having an enlarged portionextending 1therefrom toward said tubes-and exposed to the products fofcombustion vdi'scharged there# from and forming a steam separatorlcommunicating with the rest of the header, a

steam supply pipe leading to `the separator,

pipes connected to the header and provided with steam dischargingnozzles directed toward Itheopen ends of said tubes, and valves forIcontrolling th-e discharge of steam from 3. The combination of a firetube boiler,

a housing enclosing the same and providing a passage for products ofcombustion `lead-v ing from thev lire tubes, and a tube cleaning devicewithin said passage in iront of the discharge end of said tubes andcomprisingA a horizontally extending steam header havving an enlargedportion extending downwardly therefrom and exposed to the products .ofcombustion from said tubes and forming a steam separator the upper por-Ition of which is in communication with the rest of the header, a steamsupply pipe leading to the upper portion of the separator, a

discharge pipe for water of condensation leading from the lower portionof the separater, pipes connected to the header and provided with steamdischarging nozzles directed toward the open ends of said tubes, andvalves for controlling the discharge of steam from the'nozzles.y v

4. The combination of a fire tube boiler, a housing enclosing' the sameand providing 'a izo passage for products of combustion leading from theVtire tubes, said housing having an and communicating therewith, pipescon` nectedto the header arms and provided with steam dischargingnozzles directed toward theopen ends of the tubes, a steam `supply pipeleading to the steam separating chamber, and valves for controlling thedischarge of steam from the nozzles. n n

The combination of a lire tube boiler, a housing enclosing the same andproviding a passage for products of combustionleading yfrom the retubes, said housing having an opening in the front wall thereof normallyclosed by a hinged door, a tube cleaning de# vice comprising a hollowcasting supported by saidA door between it andthe discharge ends of thelire tubes and forming a central steam separating chamber having steamheader arms projecting laterally therefrom and communicating therewith,pipes connected to the header arms and provided with steam dischargingnozzles directed toward the open ends of the tubes, a steam supply pipeleading to the steam separating chamber, said casting having a lbailieformed ltherein between the steam'inlet of the separatingchamber and theopening affording communication betweenA the separating chamber and theheaderv arms, and valves for controlling the discharge of steam fromthe'nozzlesp 6. The combination firetube'boiler,a

housing enclosing the same and providinga passage for products'ofcombustion leading from the fire tubes, said housingfhavingan opening inthe front-wall thereof normally lclosed by a hinged door, a tubecleaning defy vice comprising a,` .hollow casting supported by saidydoorv between it and the discharge ends of the fire tubes and formingaVV central l steam separating chamber having steam header armsprojecting laterally therefrom y and communicating therewith, hollow`iittinge screwed intothe header arms and communicating therewith,vertical pipes having :sok

closed free ends screwed into the hollow iittings and extendingupwardlyand downwardly therefrom fand communicating theref with, branch pipesVextending from the vertical. pipes and having steamp'discharging nozzleson their lfree ends directedtoward theopen ends of the tubes,`a steamsupply pipe leading to the steam separating chamn bei', and valves forcontrolling thedischarge of steam from the nozzles. l

In testimony whereof I afiii mysignature hereto. 4 l Y,

MARION R. BOVVE

